Ward supports youth employment in recycling sector with Kickstart Scheme

Ward is supporting 18-24 year olds looking for an opportunity to start a career in the recycling industry

Midlands-based metal recycling and waste management specialist Ward has benefitted from the government’s Kickstart Scheme, to offer employment opportunities to several 18–24-year-olds at high risk of long-term unemployment.

Ward offered up to 20 placements to those joining the scheme, predominantly as recycling operatives, as well as other roles within the business, which operates nationally. Working closely with Job Centre Plus in Ilkeston and Chesterfield, 17 suitable candidates were identified who joined the firm in February and March.

Each role was offered as a six-month placement of 25 hours per week, with a view to creating full time-permanent employment.  It is part-funded by the government at minimum wage and enhanced by Ward to increase the overall salary.

Katie Brown, HR Manager at Ward said:

“This is a great scheme to give young people real work experience and build their long-term skills. We see this as a genuinely positive way of encouraging young people into the Ward team and training people in our industry.

Due to significant growth at our sites in Ilkeston and Chesterfield, we had a real need for recycling operatives and other new team members. We were looking for practical, down-to-earth people with a strong work ethic, good attitude and a basic education level who want the opportunity to progress their career with us.”

Each successful person will become a full Ward employee with access to the www.reward.co.uk benefit scheme.

Operations Director, Donald Ward added:

“We saw the Kickstart Scheme as a great opportunity for young people to join our multi-award-winning business during a really exciting period of growth. We are committed to growing and developing our in-house team and if we see promising talent, there are lots of opportunities for progression and additional training such as health and safety or forklift operator training. We really hope to keep as many people on for a long-term career with us as we can.”

For more information on career at Ward within metal recycling and waste management visit www.ward.com/careers.